Self watering baskets help to beat the hosepipe ban

Gardeners, Britain in Bloom entrants and grounds people affected by the imminent hosepipe ban now have a way of beating the ban whilst conserving water.

By using self watering containers and hanging baskets, councils, organisations and individuals can keep their displays watered and well maintained without using hosepipes.

The self watering planters have a built in water reservoir with a series of capillaries to 'suck' up the water which is then evenly dispersed via an expander pad. Because the water is stored under the soil, it doesn't evaporate whatever the weather conditions. This means that even in the hottest, driest conditions, baskets and containers need only be watered once a week, saving on both water and maintenance.

Many local authorities already use the containers, including Birmingham City Council. "With the use of our self watering system we are able to manage with one or two visits a week by our watering crews in most summers," explains Tim Oakes of Birmingham Parks and Nurseries DSO. "This would compare to daily visits required for other non reservoir types of containers during the warmer months."

The hosepipe ban is set to be imposed by seven water companies across south east and eastern England from 5th April due to consistently lower than average rainfall. With many places preparing communal displays for the Queen's Golden Jubilee, The Olympics and the annual Britain in Bloom competition, the ban is bad news.

The self watering containers have been developed by British company Amberol using their trademarked Aquafeed system. Amberol specialise in sustainable gardening products as well as recycled garden furniture and talking litter bins.

"We have always advised that using self watering containers is good practice, reducing the likelihood of over watering whilst conserving water," comments Amberol's Marketing Manager John Williamson. "However, the hosepipe ban could make them a necessity for individuals and organisations who want to ensure that their displays survive the ban. Furthermore, with our changing weather conditions, it looks as if conservation of water will become an increasingly serious issue for Britain's horticulturalists."

The self watering containers come in a range of shapes and sizes including hanging baskets, barrier baskets, tiered planters and half barrels. For more information about Amberol's self watering products visit www.amberol.co.uk.